Israel ranks No. 29 'Overall Best Country' in new report
It is “very highly developed in... life expectancy, education, [and] per capita income," but "has one of the most unequal economies in the Western world, with significant gaps between rich and poor."
By MAAYAN JAFFE-HOFFMANSunbathers visit the Mediterranean Sea at Dor Beach, northern Israel August 28, 2018. Picture taken August 28, 2018(photo credit: REUTERS/AMIR COHEN)Israel ranked No. 29 in the U.S. News & World Report “2020 Best Countries” report, which was released earlier this month, unchanged from 2019.Israel is sandwiched between Brazil (No. 28) and Qatar (No. 30).Switzerland ranked No. 1, Canada No. 2 and Japan No. 3.U.S. News said the ranking is meant to “examine a nation’s worth beyond hard metrics: The 2020 Best Countries report and rankings are based on how global perceptions define countries in terms of a number of qualitative characteristics, impressions that have the potential to drive trade, travel and investment and directly affect national economies.”Some 73 countries are included in the report, each measured on 65 attributes or terms that can be used to described a modern nation. Ultimately, these attributes fuel the overall country score as well as scores in specific categories, including adventure, citizenship, cultural influence, entrepreneurship, heritage, movers, open for business, power and quality of life.The magazine defines Israel as “the only Jewish nation in the world,” adding that “for its relatively small size, the country has played a large role in global affairs.”“The country has a strong economy, landmarks of significance to several religions and strained relationships with many of its Arab neighbors,” the report said. It is “very highly developed in terms of life expectancy, education, per capita income and other human development index indicators. But the country also has one of the most unequal economies in the Western world, with significant gaps between the rich and poor.”The report describes Israel’s founding in 1948 in one paragraph, noting that “seven decades later, boundaries are still hotly contested.”On specific indicators, Israel ranks highest in the power category (No. 8) for its strong military, strong international alliances and political influence.The country also ranks well in the movers category (No. 15) for being “different, distinctive, dynamic and unique.”
